Ors of one-third to edmund moloughlin



J'. H. DOWNES & L TURKj PICTURE FRAME Patented J 11119 20 PUB- Ed.

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INVENT H:

- IATTEET:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. DOWNES AND LOUIS TURK, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGN- ORS' OF ONE-THIRD TO EDMUND MULOUGHLIN, OF SAME PLACE.

PICTU RE-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,751, dated June 20, 1882.

Application filed April 13, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES H. DOWNES and LOUIS TURK, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Picture-Frames and we do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings furnished and forming a part of the same, is a clear, true, and complete description of our invention.

Our improvements are specially intended for that class of small light frames which are usually hung flatly against the wall; and the objects thereof are to heighten the effective display of small pictures, as well as to render the frames susceptible of uses not heretofore provided for, and also to ali'ord material protection against dust to the picture and its immediate surroundings, which is a desirable feature, especially in that class of fancy goods wherein satin, silk, velvet, 850.,

are employed in the manufacture of frames as an intermediate ornamentation between the wooden portion of the frames and the picture, thereby serving as a mat.

To more particularly describe our invention, we will refer to the accompanying drawin gs andspecify the feature deemed novel in the claim hereunto annexed.-

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front and side views of a single frame embodying our invention. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view of the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively front and top views of a double frame embodying our invention.

The main frame A may be of any desired form; but, as shown,in each case it is rectangular and composed of the two side rails, 11, and top and bottom rails, b, each of which is rabbeted at its inner edge, as at c, to form a recess for the reception of the backing d, which may be provided with buttons for securing it in place, or in lieu thereof the usual pins or studs may be employed.

The character of ornamentation on'the front faces of the rails may of course be indefinitely varied.

- Upon the top rail of theframe we apply, as a novel feature, an overhanging bracket-shelf, B, which may be varied in its outline, as desired in each case, and ornamental braces 0 may be employed, if desired; or the top rail of the frame may be of such thickness on its upper edge asto afford a firm support for the shelf without said braces.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the frame is adapted to receive but one picture; but in Figs. 4 and 5 a double frame is shown, there being two frames rigidly connected at right angles to each other and surmounted by the shelf B, which isin this case triangular in form, and such double frames are therefore only suited for hanging in the corners of rooms.

Each of the frames shown has a metallic border, f, surrounding the opening for the picture, and between it and the rails of the frame is a mat, g, composed of suitable textile fabric-such as silk or velvet which may be flat or crimped, as indicated in the drawings. The shelves B, because of the shadows cast beneath them, effectively set off a picture mounted in the frames, and falling dust is lodged upon the top of the shelf, thus to some extent, at least, protecting the silk or velvet therefrom, and said shelves are also serviceable, after the manner of wall-brackets, for the reception of light ornaments, the frames being supplied with strong eyes or rings h, by which they are readily suspended upon nails or pins driven into the wall.

We are aware that rectangular boxes for the reception of a pile of connected pictures have heretofore been provided with a back plate for hanging the same against a wall, and also that moldings of various kinds have been employed for ornamenting the capsor tops of picture-frames.

We do not limit ourselves to-any precise form of frame, nor to the grouping together of any particular number of frames, it being obvious that extensive variations may be made in these respects, and also that, it desired, more than one shelf may be employed in connection with any one frameor group of frames.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent As anew article of manufacture, a pictureframe adapted to be hung flatly against a wall, and provided with an overhanging bracketshelf, substantially as described.

JAMES HARRY 'DOWNES. LOUIS TUR'K.

Witnesses:

JAMES W. KURTZ, I v JAMES C. EADIE. 

